Capture conditional posted variables into an array then loop

victusinambitus · September 3, 2012

I have an order form that is populated dynmically from a database. We have no control over the number of "active" items at the time the form is generated however the format of the fields is defined as: $item_[n], where [n] is the database record ID.

<?php $sql="select * from products where active=1 order by 'order' "; 
$result1=mysql_query($sql); 
$no=mysql_num_rows($result); 
for($i=0;$i<$no;$i++) {
    $products_id=trim(mysql_result($result1,$i,"products_id")); ?>
    <HTML OUTPUT HERE>Item: <input type="text" name="item_<?php echo $products_id; ?>"size="1" />
<?php } ?>

All is well so far, however after posting this data I wish to capture the posted data into an array and then process it.

I have it fully working hard coded thus:

<?php if(array_key_exists('item_1', $_POST)) {
    $item_1=$_POST['item_1'];
    if ($item_1>0) {
    <DATA PROCESSING CODE HERE>
    } 
} else {
    $item_1=""; 
}
<?php if(array_key_exists('item_2', $_POST)) {
    $item_2=$_POST['item_2'];
    ...
    etc

Obviously I wish to automate this by putting all posted data into an array and then looping through those items in the array. Can someone please help me put conditional posted data (where for example they commence with "item_") into an array and then complete the code looping through the variables in the array?

<CAPTURE CONDITIONAL POSTED DATA INTO AN ARRAY HERE>
<FOR LOOP BEGINS>
    <DATA PROCESSING CODE HERE USING THE <field from array>>
<FOR LOOP ENDS>

Thank you

Spring · September 3, 2012

Why are you looping through DB results using for instead of foreach?

(Sorry may be a little confused at the question)

but return the resource as an array and loop?

mysql_fetch_array()

http://php.net/manual/en/control-structures.foreach.php

Pikachu2000 · September 3, 2012

It would be much simpler to set up all of the form fields that will be processed the same way as an array.

<form method="post>
<input name="item[]" type="text">
<input name="item[]" type="text">
<input name="item[]" type="text">
<input name="item[]" type="text">
<input name="item[]" type="text">
<input name="item[]" type="text">
<input name="item[]" type="text">
<input type="submit">

$_POST['item'] = array_map('trim', $_POST['item']);
foreach( $_POST['item'] as $v ) {
        if( !empty( $v ) {
                // validate data and do whatever it is you want to do here . . .
        }
}

Christian F. · September 3, 2012

If you want to give the items a specific key, then just do name="item[{$row['id']}]" when generating the form.

victusinambitus · September 4, 2012

Thanks to the people who have responded. Much appreciated. Apologies but I still do not have a grasp on the solutions provided. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear and (for Spring) my understanding of arrays and loops is limited to copying others' existing code and modifying.

I think it may be better for me to ask the question another way:

I have a form that posts data. A var_dump($_POST) in the receiving code may produces for example this:

array(3) { ["item_273"]=> string(1) "1" ["item_107"]=> string(1) "5" ["item_65"]=> string(2) "10" }

As a result of this sample post I need to then have the following variables available in my receiving PHP code:

$item_16="1";
$item_273="5";
$item_65="10;

I will then loop through each item in the array, search the database for further information on each item such as say, price and weight:

$item_16_price="1.00";
$item_273_price="2.00";
$item_65_price="3.00";

and,

$item_16_weight="5";
$item_273_weight="10";
$item_65_weight="3";

and then total values to calculate total weight and total price:

$total_price=$item_16*$item_16_price;
$total_weight=$item_16*$item_16_weight;

to be able to build one results string:

$order="You have ordered:<br />";
$order.="Item: 16, Qty: 7, Weight: 5kg<br />";
$order.="Item: 273, Qty: 7, Weight: 5kg<br />";
$order.="Item: 65, Qty: 7, Weight: 5kg<br />";
$order.="Total Price: $41.00<br />";
$order.="Total Weight: 85kg<br />";

Using:

echo $order;

I can now produce the desired output:

You have ordered:

Item: 16, Qty: 7, Weight: 5kg

Item: 273, Qty: 7, Weight: 10kg

Item: 65, Qty: 7, Weight: 3kg

Total Price: $41.00

Total Weight: 53kg

I have supplied my "quasi" code again for your assistance.

//a) code here to set variables:
$item_16="1";
$item_273="5";
$item_65="10;

//b) code here to loop through the database picking up additional values for the three posted items like:
SELECT price,weight FROM PRODUCTS WHERE products_id={array value here}
$item_16_price="1.00";
$item_273_price="2.00";
$item_65_price="3.00";
$item_16_weight="5";
$item_273_weight="10";
$item_65_weight="3";

//c) looping finished and all variables set and available for use
$total_price=$item_16*$item_16_price;
$total_weight=$item_16*$item_16_weight;

//d) my outputing code for example that may calculate total weight and/or total price
//e) use all variables

Christian F. · September 4, 2012

We do indeed understand what you get from the form. What we've recommended is to change the form, so that you change what you get from it.

You can have PHP automatically create the array for you, by adding [] to the name of the input fields. Put something between those square brackets, and it becomes the key for the value in that particular row. If it doesn't have a predefined key, it'll get assigned one per normal auto-indexing routines.

In other words, if you have a form that looks like this:

<form method="post" action="">
<table>
	<thead>
		<tr>
			<th>Item</th>
			<th>Price</th>
			<th>Amount</th>
			<th>Total</th>
		</tr>
	</thead>
	<tbody>
<!-- This is the looping part. -->
		<tr>
			<td>{$ItemName}</td>
			<td>{$ItemPrice}</td>
			<td><input type="text" name="item[$ItemID]" value="$ItemAmnt"></td>
			<td>{$ItemTotal}</td>
		</tr>
<!-- End of the looping part. -->
	</tbody>
</table>

<fieldset>
	<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Update cart">
</fieldset>
</form>

The resulting $_POST array would have an index named item, which would be an array containing the item ID as the keys with the as the value. Like this:

foreach ($_POST['item'] as $ItemID => $Amount) {}

In closing I would recommend you to go to the PHP manual, and read up on arrays and everything else mentioned here that you don't understand fully. Once you fully understand how array works, and how you can manipulate them and the $_POST superglobal, things will become a lot easier for you.

victusinambitus · September 4, 2012

Thanks ChristianF.

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Capture conditional posted variables into an array then loop

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